PTO By-Laws

PTO Bylaws

The title of this organization is the Marlin Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization, Bloomington, Indiana, hereafter referred to as the Marlin PTO.

Article 2.0 Articles of Organization

The “articles of organization” comprise these Marlin PTO By-laws, as from time to time amended.

Article 3.0 Objectives

The objects of this organization are:

3.1 to promote the welfare of children in home, school and community.

3.2 to secure adequate laws for the care and the protection of children and youth.

3.3 to support the maintenance of adequate physical facilities and educational materials as are required to deliver a quality educational experience for our pupils.

3.4 to develop between educators and the general public united efforts that will secure the highest possible advantages in all aspects of physical, mental, social and spiritual education.

3.5 to support the principle that parents or guardians are ultimately responsible for the education of their children and the responsibility may not be relinquished.

3.6 to support the efforts of educators to perform their professional role in the training of young people for responsible adulthood. It is the moral obligation of parents and educators to provide a safe, sane and secure environment for all children.

3.7 to encourage parent-teacher cooperation which shall enhance the educational experience for the children. The development of a close relation between the home and the school will encourage opportunities to exchange information and ideas to provide a safe, secure and stable educational experience for the pupils.

4.2 shall not be politically identifiable with persons or parties promoting public office or debatable public policy.

4.3 will not seek to perform the function of school administration or management or educational policy.

4.4 may provide a forum for individual members for discussion and recording of matters relating to administration or educational policy.

4.5 and its officers and its membership shall not alienate individual members with commitments that run counter to the Marlin PTO By-laws.

Article 5.0 Membership

Membership in the PTO shall:

5.1 be made available without regard to race, color, creed or national origin.

5.2 include, without exception, all parents or legal guardians of each annual student enrollment, as well as the professional and support staff at Marlin Elementary School.

5.3 grant eligibility to participate in the business meetings or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions.

Article 6.0 Election of Executive Committee and Elected Board Members

6.1 Each officer and elected board member must hold membership in the PTO.

6.2 Executive Committee Officers of the PTO shall:

6.21 consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.

6.22 be elected for a specified term. Offices of secretary and treasurer shall be elected for two-year terms. Office of vice-president shall be a two-year term, the second year serving as president. Office of president shall be a one-year term, the following year serving in an ex-officio advisory capacity.

6.23 not be elected for the same office for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

6.24 be elected on the alternating year cycle of

6.241 odd numbered years shall hold elections for the office of vice-president and treasurer.

6.242 even numbered years shall hold elections for the offices of vice-president and secretary.

6.3 Elected Board members shall:

6.31 consist of at-large members of the PTO, there being a minimum of two and a maximum of five.

6.32 be elected for a one-year term.

6.33 not be elected as an at-large member for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

6.4 Nominations for officers and board members shall be pursued, first, by sending a survey to all parents requesting parents to volunteer to stand for election. In the absence of volunteers for any specific position, a Nominating Committee will be formed to nominate a full slate of officers. The nominating committee will be composed of no less than three members selected by the Executive Committee at least one (1) month prior to the election. The nominating committee shall:

6.41 report all nominees for each office to be filled at the Board meeting in April, at which time additional nominees may be made from the floor.

6.42 consider eligible for office and nominate only those persons who are members of the PTO.

6.43 consider eligible and nominate only those persons who have explicitly agreed to serve prior to nomination and election.

6.5 Pertinent information on nominees shall be made available to the general membership prior to a contested election.

6.6 Executive Committee Officers and board members shall be elected by ballot vote from general membership at the general meeting held during second semester.

6.7 Offices shall be filled for the following school year no later than the close of the annual board meeting in May.

6.8 Officers for the ensuing school year shall assume duties not later than the first scheduled school day.

6.9 Vacancies occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term at the first meeting following the date of vacancy. A person shall be elected by majority vote of the board and notice of such election given to general membership.

Article 7.0 Duties of Officers and Elected Board Members

7.1 The President shall:

7.11 preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Executive Committee at which he/she may be present

7.12 perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these By-laws or assigned by the organization or by the Executive Committee.

7.13 coordinate the work of the officers and the organization in order that the Objectives may be promoted.

7.2 The Vice-President shall:

7.21 act as an aide to the President.

7.22 perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of that officer.

7.23 perform such other duties as may be assigned by the organization or by the Executive Committee.

7.3 The Secretary shall:

7.31 record the minutes of all meetings of the organization and of the Executive Committee.

7.32 perform such other duties as may be assigned by the organization or by the Executive Committee.

7.4 The Treasurer shall:

7.41 have custody of all of the funds of the organization.

7.42 maintain such books of accounts and records as required for auditing.

7.43 keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures at all times.

7.44 make disbursements in accordance with the approved budget of the organization and as authorized by the President, Executive Committee, Board or organization.

7.45 present a financial report at every meeting of the organization and at other times when requested by the Executive Committee.

7.46 if deemed necessary by the Board or the general membership, have accounts examined annually by an auditing committee of not less than three members outside of the Executive Committee. Selection of this committee is a duty of the Executive Committee. When satisfied that the Treasurer’s annual report is correct, the auditing committee shall sign a statement of fact at the end of the report.

7.47 make a full and complete report at the first general meeting of the following school year.

7.5 At-large board members shall:

7.51 act as an aide to the Executive Committee.

7.52 participate and vote in the decision-making process at all Board meetings.

7.53 perform such other duties as may be assigned by the organization or by the Executive Committee.

Article 8.0 Executive Committee

8.1 The Executive Committee shall:

8.11 consist of the officers of the organization, a teacher representative, and the principal of the school or a representative appointed by the principal.

8.12 serve until the election and qualification of their successors.

8.2 The duties of the Executive Committee shall be t

8.21 create standing and special committees.

8.22 approve the plans of work of the standing committees.

8.23 appoint an auditor or an auditing committee at least two (2) weeks before the annual meeting to audit the Treasurer’s account if deemed necessary by the Board of the general membership.

8.3 Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or by a majority of the members of the committee.

Article 9.0 PTO Board

9.1 The PTO Board shall:

9.11 consist of the Executive Committee, the at-large members and the chairpersons of standing committees.

9.12 serve until the election and qualification of their successors.

9.2 The duties of the PTO Board shall be t

9.21 transact necessary business in the intervals between organization meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the organization.

9.22 present a report at the regular meetings of the organization.

9.23 request the Executive Committee to appoint an audit or auditing committee, if deemed necessary.

9.24 approve disbursement of funds.

9.3 Regular meetings of the Board shall be held monthly during the year, the time to be fixed by the Board at its first meeting of the school year. A majority of the Executive Committee plus two board members shall constitute a quorum.

Article 10.0 Organization Meetings

10.1 A minimum of two (2) general meetings of this organization shall be held during the school year. Dates of meetings shall be determined by the Board and announced at the first regular meeting of the year. There should be at least one general meeting per semester.

10.2 Special meetings of the organization may be called by the president or by a majority of the executive committee, four (4) days notice being given.

10.3 Twenty-five (25) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any general meeting of this organization.

Article 11.0 Standing and Special Committees

11.1 Only members of the organization shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointed position.

11.2 The Executive Committee may create such special committees as it may deem necessary to promote the Objectives and carry on the work of the organization. The term of each chairman shall be one (1) year or until the selection of his successor.

11.3 The chairman of each standing or special committee shall present a plan of work to the board for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the executive committee.

11.4 The power to form special committees and appoint their members rests with the organization and/or Board and/or the Executive Committee. (As a special committee is created and appointed for a specific purpose, it automatically goes out of existence when its work is done and its final report is received.)

11.5 The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the nominating committee.

Article 12.0 Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of this organization shall begin on October 1 and end on the following September 30.

Article 13.0 Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are applicable.

Article 14.0 Amendments

14.1 These By-Laws may be amended at any regular general meeting of the organization by a two-third vote of the members present and voting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment having been given at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is voted upon.

14.2 A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of By-Laws as a substitute for the existing By-Laws only be a majority vote at a meeting of the organization, or by a two-thirds vote of the Board. The requirements for adoption of a revised set of By-Laws shall be the same as in the case of an amendment.

____________________________Tear off and return bottom portion as your ballot________________

Members of the By-Laws Committee are happy to discuss concerns or answer questions that you may have. Please call any of those on the committee:

Doug Arnholter—332-7303 Martha Moore—335-0025

Ceci Maron-Puntarelli—334-9778 Brenda Stern—332-9722

I have read the by-laws revision.

___I vote to accept the by-laws as revised.

___I vote to reject the by-laws as revised.

Please submit your vote to the ballot box in the office prior to October 20, 1999.

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